Saturday, 25 May 2013
Exclusive: U.S. To Slap "Terrorist" Label On Nigerian Militants -Reuters
(Reuters) - The U.S. government is expected to formally apply a "foreign terrorist" label on Thursday to three alleged leading figures of the violent Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, officials said.
The action by the State and Treasury departments follows growing pressure on the Obama Administration to take stronger action against Boko Haram. The group, which says it wants to establish an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria, has stepped up attacks on Christian places of worship this year.
Thursday's anticipated action, officials said, involves applying the "terrorist" designation to three men presumed to be central figures in the group.
The three individuals, an official said, are Abubakar Shekau, aged around 43, described as a Boko Haram leader who allegedly aligned himself with al Qaeda in a video message; Abubakar Adam Kambar, aged roughly 35; and Khalid al Barnawi, aged approximately 36. All three are native Nigerians.
The expected action will freeze any assets they have in the United States, and bar U.S. persons from any transactions with them.
It is among the first such action the U.S. government has taken against Boko Haram, but falls short of demands from some U.S. lawmakers and the Justice Department to designate the entire group as a "foreign terrorist organization."
The State Department has been under pressure to act against Boko Haram for months. In January, Lisa Monaco, the Justice Department's top national security official, sent a letter to the State Department arguing that the Nigerian group met the criteria for a "foreign terrorist" listing because it either engages in terrorism that threatens the United States or has a capability or intent to do so.
Boko Haram increasingly is seen as a potent threat to Nigeria, the continent's most populous state and major oil producer, and as part of growing arc of Islamist extremist groups stretching across northern Africa.
More recently, a group of Republican senators led by Scott Brown of Massachusetts introduced legislation requiring the State Department to determine whether Boko Haram should be designated as a terrorist group.
Republican Representative Patrick Meehan, who chairs a Homeland Security subcommittee in the House, also introduced an amendment that would force the administration to add Boko Haram to the terrorism list or explain why it was not doing so.
However, U.S. diplomats are weighing these demands against counter arguments, including those made by a group of academic experts on Africa who sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last month urging her not to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist group.
The academics argued that the move could backfire by enhancing the group's reputation among potential recruits and other militant groups. A U.S. designation might also empower more radical elements of Boko Haram, which is divided into factions, the professors said.
In her letter to the State Department, Monaco of the Justice Department reported that since 2009 Boko Haram has conducted violent attacks against Nigeria's "police, politicians, public institutions and civilian population."
Monaco said that according to press reports, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for 510 victims in 2011, and also took credit for a January 20 attack on government buildings in Kano in which more than 160 were killed.
She said that although Boko Haram attacks until now have occurred only within Nigeria, Washington should not underestimate the threat the group poses to U.S. interests.
objectivity must be our watch word
I am writing with an open mind on the issue of Boko haram in nigeria. However, Boko haram is just a small group of mis-led youth with common interest being sponsored by only God-knows who,but whoever is behind them should definitely be ready to pay for the life of the innocent victims of circumstance that were killed right from the inception of boko haram in the hereafter.I also want to believe that boko haram is Nigerian problem and I believe we can solve our problem by our self so, we don't need the service of the US government unless if the they have an ulterior motive to that.
evil People
evil peaple, is because your god is a dead god that is why you are fighting to help him. Good news for you,very soon drones will visit you in your hiding places and you shall all go and marry your 72 wives in everlasting hell that burns with sulfur with your mentor.
Re: america pls act now.
U need to think as wise man nt as wise nigerian. If U personally look at dis issues generally, there most be a motive behind this killing innocents nigerians. Take note, if boko haram are strong as dis, how can you discribe niger delta militant. In brief both boko haram and militant there most be somebody hehind there show. Wat ill bring american here? To do what. To distroye us. No....... one nation one nigeria......... American can't solve this problem. Unless if they are behind the motive. Thanks
this is nigerian problem
fianally
Please send the killer drones from Camp David immediately to smoke out those jihadists. The end is just beginning.
This is rubbish
How come the names of real boko haram leaders missing from the list? I mean Ciroma and company.
NIGERIANS ARE DAMNED TO BE SELF DESTRUCTIVE & SENSELESS.
So unless America does not come out to help us, President Jonathan, and all Nigerians in Nigeria, cannot resolve to stop corruption and defeat tribalism and sectarianism-the causes of boko haram madness.
Am I suprised? Of cause not!!!!!!!!!
How can we when the average IQ of those in the senate and House of reps is in the range of mild- moderate mental retardation.
Let us send drones to nigeria
if our leaders are not capable of dealing with this barbarians (b.h) then let us send drone to flush shekau and his aids from the cave.
All what i want see in naija is peace, i don't care who will take that responsibility
Deri .... admit your love for Buhari
Deriiiiii, your Buhari hallucinations have resurfaced. Looks like you have started dodging the use of your Anti-Buhariasis prescription again. Stop being a naughty boy.
There you are Deri doing sleepless nights on S/R while GEJ is wining and dining all over the world. How much are you really worth? I am sure there are folks on this forum who could offer you a better paid job that will afford you sound sleep.
How long do you want to continue with your ablutions on S/R? It looks like you are now obsessed with the name Buhari such that your day is of no value except you mention that name. I suspect that one of your future children will be named Buhari because behind all your mischief for mere crumbs of naira from Aso Rock is a hidden admiration for this amiable general. It' s just that hunger cannot make you admit this truth. Cheers and cheers again.
I will urge the US to go the
I will urge the US to go the whole hog and declare the organization a foreign terrorist organization. The leaders and financiers are Nigerians, but some of those captured have turned out to be from Cameroun, Chad and Niger. They are terrorizing the Christian population, killing people even as they pray, all in the name of Allah. After the recent attack in which they targeted women and children, they boasted in their Al Qaeda style video that Allah had given them a great victory. Please, do not listen to the Northern Nigerian political class who are the sponsors of this group.
NOW U.S DROWNS CAN TARGET AND
NOW U.S DROWNS CAN TARGET AND KILL SHEKAU IN NIGERIA.SHAME ON NAIJA GOVT.
BOKO HARAM ARE INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST
PLS US SHOULD LABELED BOKO HARAM INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST NOT JUST THEIR LEADERS
The Prelate, Methodist Church
The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde, and Kwara State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr. James Foloranmi, on Wednesday said the verdict of an Abuja Federal High Court on Friday that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, had no powers to establish an Islamic bank in the country had vindicated the opponents of Islamic banking in Nigeria.The court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole had said the CBN governor did not have the power to establish an Islamic bank without the approval of the Head of State through the Minister of Finance.In telephone interviews with our correspondent on Wednesday, Makinde said the verdict was commendable, adding that it had clarified the issue.
Thw Way out
We especially the youths have to force the common criminals [boko harams and the inefficient government] in order to decide our furture. No religion teaches crime among the two major religious believes in the country. Boko harams are claiming to be muslims but the fact is that they are not and never one simply because they now turn and interprete the Holy Quran to suite their plans and that renders them as infidels which they always were.
To my dear northern brothers especially the hausas, if you think seating back to pray will deal with this matter then I say you are lying because this is not hte way to approach insecurity matters in the history islam.We pray and then work towards the prayer path and thinks will work but if we stay back then just forget it. . .
I am ready to head for the sacrifice but how many of my likes are out there to back me up????
this must be a joke to the Americans.
this must be a joke to the Americans, why label three individuals only???? The whole group needs to classified as terrorist group for God's sake.
THE USA IS A VETO WEILDING MEMBER OF THE UN
This whole arguement is silly,if the USA is a member of the UN and the United Nations building was blown up claiming the lives of many international civil-servants,it constitutes a direct threat to the USA because American citizens work for the UN.
Maybe the whole idea is to give the government of Nigeria some time to defeat this insurgence but as we can all see the masterminds are walking free and the government has claimed that they know them in the past but so far no arrests have been made and my people are dying in churches,men women and children.
As long as the sponsors,financiers and religious advisers walk free,the insurgence will trive.
buhari to be flown to the hague for trial
Finally the USA have placed the Buhari Haram criminal gangs operating from Mali and Chad in their rightful place-among d global terrorist groups. An act which will bring some sanity into the soul of armed robbers, who rob banks and tie explosives around the waist of 10yrs old toddlers. Baboons and snoopy dogs who murder pregnant women and pick soft targets to throw their rusty bombs around university chapels and churches in the name of wanting to impose Buhari on the masses, have no business enjoying the oil revenue from the temporary abode of d ppl of d SS zone of 9ja. Glad the USA now knows junks like Tundemess, the fake Saad Nagodi, wahala, sunday njokede, Osita dioka and Prof Pius head of Buharis terrorist outfit in diaspora. BH is an uncultured demonic group, attempting to impart satanic (aljani)Islamic wisdom to uncultured minds in the North via Buhari. With the aid of the Islamic bodies resident near tinubu square close to the slave port of Lagos in far away portugal.
BUHARI IDENTIFIED AS A TERRORIST BY D USA
Finally the USA have placed the Buhari Haram criminal gangs operating from Mali and Chad in their rightful place-among d global terrorist groups. An act which will bring some sanity into the soul of armed robbers, who rob banks and tie explosives around the waist of 10yrs old toddlers. Baboons and snoopy dogs who murder pregnant women and pick soft targets to throw their rusty bombs around university chapels and churches in the name of wanting to impose Buhari on the masses, have no business enjoying the oil revenue from the temporary abode of d ppl of d SS zone of 9ja. Glad the USA now knows junks like Tundemess, the fake Saad Nagodi, wahala, sunday njokede, Osita dioka and Prof Pius head of Buharis terrorist outfit in diaspora. BH is an uncultured demonic group, attempting to impart satanic (aljani)Islamic wisdom to uncultured minds in the North via Buhari. With the aid of the Islamic bodies resident near tinubu square close to the slave port of Lagos in far away portugal.
cant get along with boko haram and buhari period
Finally the USA have placed the Buhari Haram criminal gangs operating from Mali and Chad in their rightful place-among d global terrorist groups. An act which will bring some sanity into the soul of armed robbers, who rob banks and tie explosives around the waist of 10yrs old toddlers. Baboons and snoopy dogs who murder pregnant women and pick soft targets to throw their rusty bombs around university chapels and churches in the name of wanting to impose Buhari on the masses, have no business enjoying the oil revenue from the temporary abode of d ppl of d SS zone of 9ja. Glad the USA now knows junks like Tundemess, the fake Saad Nagodi, wahala, sunday njokede, Osita dioka and Prof Pius head of Buharis terrorist outfit in diaspora. BH is an uncultured demonic group, attempting to impart satanic (aljani)Islamic wisdom to uncultured minds in the North via Buhari. With the aid of the Islamic bodies resident near tinubu square close to the slave port of Lagos in far away portugal.
Where are Nigeria Elders
Please can someone help me out here; am looking for Nigeria elders and statement, is it that they are all dead or none is credible enough to be elders.
Please help me look for them and inform them Northern Nigeria is boiling and its children have been tagged terriorist.
Add Ndume to d list
They should also include the name of one insane Senator Ndume their financier
must be cubbed
whether operating in Nigeria alone or not,BH is a terrorist group and should be treated as such if we must cub their assesses.
Is Washington willing to get
Is Washington willing to get involved and help us or protect its own interest?
only God can help 9ja
the usa has been looking 4 an opportunity of gaining access in 9ja 2 help increase fuel in the whole situation, bt i hope dis infidel, barbarians have help dem 2 cun down and achieve their devilish aim.all i wanna say z dat its only God that can help 9ja n not usa.
Too shallow a response from
Too shallow a response from US.Not good enough! .The same rule should apply to the financiers and sympathizers, who we believe US knows
Obama...add SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI
Come Obama, if u insists on tagging only individuals as terrorists instead of the group 'Boko Haram', for reasons best known to u, then make sure u add our own CBN gov., Sanusi Lamido Sanusi...I can tell u AUTHORITATIVELY that Sanusi is more of a member than his fellow terrorists Buhari, IBB, Atiku, Gusau and Chiroma.
Put Pastor Boko-Bakare, at the bottom list, since he knows the truth, but refuses to speak because of stupid politics and loyalty to Boko-Buhari.
America please act now
Boko Haram are evil people. IBB, BUHARI & ATIkU from Nigeria are the main sponsors of Boko Haram because a man from the South South where the oil comes from is the president of Nigeria. America government please arrest IBB, BUHARI & ATIKU
DECISION OKAY
It's a decision in good direction. At least their accounts wld be frozen
They should also add the
They should also add the following name to the list:
Tambuwal
Muhammadu Buhari
Ibrahim Babangida
Adamu Ciroma
Tunde Bakare (Imam)
Farouk Lawan
etc
u guys are waiting until one
u guys are waiting until one of ur citizen is struck,bfor u act abee?selfish pple.
US AGAIN
I wonder why USA are trying to involve the b/h sect among the world terrorist group, ur effort will just gress their elbows. U better think twice.

